Vehicle-wheel



]. HOFFMAN.

VEHICLE, WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED )ULY 31919.

1,385,171, v PatentedJuly19,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- J. HOFFMAN.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.1919. 1,385,171 Patented July 19, 1921.

g '6' Z i 4 2 sHETs-saf2- anuantoz elements which can be easily UNITED srA res PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HOFFMAN, OF PORT HURON,

MICHIGAN.

vnnrcnawrrnnn Application filed July 3,

To o/ll w ham it may concern: Be it known that 1, JOHN HOFFMAN, a citizen of theUnited States, residin at Port Huron, in the county of Saint lair and State of Michi an, have invented certain new and usefu Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in vehicle wheels.

An object of my invention is the production of a vehicle Wheel provided with an auxiliary circumferentially disposed rim section capable of being extended laterally from one side of .the wheel for purposes of increasing the supporting and traction efficiency of the wheelwhen used upon soft, muddy and similarly obstructed roadways. Another object of my inventionis to producea vehicle wheel having an auxiliary tire supporting frame or rim upon which a tire can be positioned in case of puncture, thereby preventing running upon a flat tire as is sometimes the case at present.

A further ob ect of the present invention is the production of a vehicle wheel having an auxiliary rim composed of a series of extended and the wheel, and the elequickly retracted against means for simultaneously accomplishin extension or retraction of the aforesai [ments as the case may be.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a vehicle wheel embodying an auxiliary rim of durable and comparatively simple construction possessing advantages of substitution and repair of the several parts, and thereby correspondingly inexpensive in its manufacture and upkeep.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of the elements hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings which show an embodiment of my invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts:

Figure 1 isaside elevation of my im- 7 Specification of Letters Patent.

such as will en- Patented July 19, 1921. 191a Serial No. 308,350.

roved wheel illustrating the auxilia rim 1n retracted position against thewhee Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the auxiliary rim inextended position.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my improvedwheel .with the auxiliary rim extended and illustrating in dotted line an auxiliary tire positioned thereon.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation with the cap removed showing the means for e 'tending and retracting the auxiliar elements.

Fig. 5 is. a horizontal sectional view through the rim extendin and retracting means shown in Fig. 4 wit the cap in position.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through the rim of the wheel and the auxiliary rim in an extended position retracted position in dotted lines, and

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the rim elements or sectors.

The present invention has been designed to overcome certain difficulties; now incident to motor vehicle travel, such for example, as that of running intoa sandy, marshy or muddy roadway. The trouble oftentimes experienced in extricating a motor vehicle from such a roadbed is well known, and various crude and laborious methods are now resortedto as a means of getting out.

The requirements necessary to a successful extrication are those of sufficient supporting and traction tread surfaces. To this end my present wheel has been designed, and comprises among other things an auxiliary rim composed of a series ofcircumfer- 'entially arranged members or sectors capable of being extended to form an annular supportin element having a relatively large tread sur ace and also capable of being retracted or collapsed substantiallywithin the confines of the ordinary automobile wheel when not in use, and novel means including a system of gearing and screw threaded elements for operatingthe said auxiliary rim sectors simultaneously.

Referring to the drawings, the wheel 1 may be ofany standard construction comprising the usual pneumatic tire 2, rim 3, felly 4, spokes 5, andhub 6.

The auxiliary rim 7 comprises a series of in full lines and in r .the Tim:

. flange 29 of the hub extends from the bevel purposesof rotating the porting member 33 yhub section ill into circumferentially arranged sectors or members Spivotally secured to a corresponding number of base plates 9 secured to the in ner surface of the felly 4 by screws or like fastenings 10, as shown inFigr 6. The pivotal connection of the rim sectors 8 consists of projecting lugs 11 having openings therein designed to aline with similar 0 eningsformed in extending lugs 12 carrie by the base plates 9, and bolts 13 adapted inserted within the shown. Thefauxiliary rim sectors 8 are of arcuate formation and are. provided upon their'outer tread surfaces. with relatively high and low portions 14: and 15,- respectively, for urposesof obtaining greater traction. he under side of each sector 8 is wave-like or corrugated as at 16,'the same being designed to insure greater-strength and gripping action in conjunctionwith the high and low portions ltanjd 15 of the outer surface. As shownin Fig. 1 the opposite ends of the rim sectors .8 are radially inclined as at 17,

to be aforesald openlngs as thereby permitting the collapsing of the said sectors; substantially'within the confines of the wheel 1.

f The means for extending and retracting sectors 8' includes among other things operatingand connecting devices 18 interconnected with the said rim sectors and an operating means to be presently described.

Each device 18 comprises a rod 19 having a forkedor bifurcated portion 20 the ends of whichIarepivotally secured at 21 to eyes 22 carried-upon the under surface of the sectors 8. flTherodl9is screw-threaded as at 23 and is movable within .aninternally threaded portion2ft of a shaft 25. ,Secured to each shaft25is-a beveled pinion26 arranged in -mesh with a relatively large bevel gear 27 operably associated around the hub 6 of the wheel 1. v Referringthe large bevel gear 27is rotatably positioned against a I plate 28 secured to the 6, by means of bolts A sleeve portion 31 gear 27, and is pr peripherally arranged a spanner or other may be inserted for said bevel gear 27. gear 27 is held in position or similar devices 30.

videcl witha series of form of wrench or tool The large bevel upon the hub 6 by having an inner sleeve or which thefsleeve portion 31 of the bevel gear 27 is movably journaled, and an outer rim portion 35 having projecting lugsg36 secured by screws plate 28.

' Openings 38' are provided at intervals around the ri-mportion 35 and serve to accommodate a collar portion 39 of the several 'ing action particularly to Figs. 4. and 5.

means of an annular sup- 37 to the 1 .wheel and beveled pinions 26. These openings form bearings for the said collar portion providing however enough clearance in a lateral direction as shown in Fig. 5 for the swingof the connecting devices 18, as will be understood.

The annular supporting member Vided with screw-threads upon the portion 35 and receives a cap 40 having a hexagonal portion as shown. This cap serves to cover the operating means and protect the same against dust and moisture.

In operation, and when it is desired to extend the auxiliary rim members, the cap 40 is removed and a spanner wrench or other tool is inserted in the notches 32 and a rotary movement imparted to the beveled. gear 27 which will in turn revolve the respective beveled pinions 26, rotate the corn necting devices 18 and through these threaded connections hereinbeiore described extend the sectors 8 until one edge thereof abuts against the side of the folly as shown in Fig. 6, producing a rigid and effectively supported auxiliary rim. The cap 40 may now be replaced. The additional traction and supporting surfaces now produced will 'l'aeilitate the action of the vehicle in extricating itself from mud or similarly yielding substances. The particular configurations of the sectors 8 serve to insure a positive grip 33 is proouter run into the soft roadbed, as will be umlerstood.

In the case of a puncture to the pneumatic tire, the rim sectors 8 are used for supporting an auxiliary tire such as indicated by the dotted lines at 41-1 in Fig. 3. In this instance the showing is that of a solid rubber tire against the inner face of which is expanded the several sectors 8. The size of the solid rubber tire is suiiicient to bear the weight of the vehicle Without injuring the punctured pneumatic tire.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that an ellicient auxiliary means has been provided for increasing the traction and supporting surfaces of an automobile wheel for emergency use, and at the same time the general appearance of the wheel maintained avhen running under ordinary conditions.

Various changes in the form and proportion of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not limit myself to the exact construction set forth herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vehicle wheel comprising an auxiliary rim formed of a series of curved members pivotally secured at one side of the adapted to form a substantially complete rim when extended, said members having their ends cut at an angle coincident with the radii of the wheel for permitting of and means for slmultaneously extending and retracting said members.

2. A vehicle wheel havin a pneumatic tire thereon, an auxiliary rim ormed of a series of curved members pivotal-1y secured at one side of the wheel and adapted to abut and form a substantially complete rim when extended, said members being mounted in a 10 plane below the tread ofthe wheel andarranged to receive an auxiliary tire having a tread portion pro ecting beyond the pneumatic tire, and means tending and retracting said members.

In testimony whereof in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN

Witnesses:

Tnos. WELLMAN, HORACE Gr. SUMER.

HOFFMAN.

for simultaneously exaihx my signature, 15 

